New Tennis Juniors

These kids are famous skateboarders, I know about them from my line of work. Now they have quit for tennis. Video says they've been playing 4 months but I think a little longer than that. They are 13.
Potential? What do you guys think? Here's one twin.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-AoAiofpNw

These kids are famous skateboarders, I know about them from my line of work. Now they have quit for tennis. Video says they've been playing 4 months but I think a little longer than that. They are 13.
Potential? What do you guys think? Here's one twin.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-AoAiofpNw

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Good for them! They are learning a great sport that they can play for a lifetime. I'm sure they love skateboarding, but you don't see many guys in the skate park at 40 or 50.

It's interesting how the two boys especially Nic, really improved their tennis within one year but regressed in skateboarding within the same time (see the skating video after a year). It just goes to show that if one really dedicates themselves to something, you will see the fruits of your labor. All three are talented kids. My suggestion, stick with the tennis avoid the broken bones with skateboarding....though longboarding is a lot of fun!

Maybe they just have the resources to have a fun and unconventional life? And just switched from something a bit dangerous to tennis which they can all do together? I know nothing about them, just guessing.

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Well, for sure they have the resources.

I just find it odd (or don't understand), why you would want to pick a tennis academy. They barely play (or played) and it doesn't seem like fun (compared to taking a helicopter to the Bahamas and skating at a random skate park).

Maybe they just have the resources to have a fun and unconventional life? And just switched from something a bit dangerous to tennis which they can all do together? I know nothing about them, just guessing.

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I have not heard about them till today. After glancing via some of their youtube videos on that account, the skateboarding twins were quite celebrities. Earned 5 years NIKE contract till age 12. Also had other endorsement deals from their skateboard talents.

Don't have a coaching expertise to criticize their tennis but as a parent, I would be worried about skateboard injuries, even a head injury, and the longevity of that sport for any kids.

Wonder if the original poster knew why they switched and whether they are trying to become tennis pros or just enjoying the sport.
Athletic kids for sure. Best of luck!

loaded. Skate park in the "backyard". A court also, I think. My take is that the parents decided "skateboarding" wasn't the lifestyle they wanted the kids to finally end up in, so tennis was introduced. They have been playing more than 4 months.

I know a few people that make a ton of money, so no matter what they do or what their kids do, the go for the top, the best, the most expensive. Not something most can relate to, but it does happen. Not a criticism, it is what it is.

I have not heard about them till today. After glancing via some of their youtube videos on that account, the skateboarding twins were quite celebrities. Earned 5 years NIKE contract till age 12. Also had other endorsement deals from their skateboard talents.

Don't have a coaching expertise to criticize their tennis but as a parent, I would be worried about skateboard injuries, even a head injury, and the longevity of that sport for any kids.

Wonder if the original poster knew why they switched and whether they are trying to become tennis pros or just enjoying the sport.
Athletic kids for sure. Best of luck!

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...when they announced decision to switch to tennis. Said lots of nasty stuff about them and the game of tennis. They are quite well known on the skate curcuit.

Ok....according to this story, kids have played a few months and then family uproots themselves and moves from northern California to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for them to train full time at Van Der Meer Academy.....

And 14 year old boy's YouTube video
( and I will say this again, I don't know why parents are posting videos online for the entire world to see of their children, seems like you are violating your child's basic right to privacy, but whatever....), in 11 months of playing, he has logged (according to the end of the video) - 1,650 hours.

Sounds like some of these tennis dads or in this case, families could be auditioning for a reality tv show.

In response to the skateboarding injuries deal -- neither of these boys ever had a trip to the hospital the whole time they were skating.

They started skating at a very young age and, being homeschooled, skated almost every single day. The story goes that by the time they were reaching their teenage years they were simply bored of it. Very interesting to see, as they were celebrities not just in the skateboard world (appeared on Ellen, sponsored by Nike, Gatorade, Sony, etc.).

The reason I originally made this thread was because I was curious: 1) At the beginning - were they even talented enough to benefit from training full time (Does a casual runner need to to train with a marathon runner?) Sure they will improve, but is the cost worth it? and 2) Now that they have been there a year, has the cost been worth it? Have they improved, factoring in the amount of time and teaching, that they should have?

Their father is an internet marketing genius. The family is extremely loaded. The dad was the one who started making all of the movies of the boys skating and got them all those sponsors. I wouldn't be surprised if he plans to try to do the same with their tennis--they have a Twitter, a Facebook page, and a YouTube all dedicated to their tennis. I will say, though, that he does tend to exaggerate for their benefit, so that number of hours they have been playing could be stretched, etc. For example this new video says they have been playing "Almost a year" however over a year ago I posted a video where they said they had been playing "Four months."

Ok....according to this story, kids have played a few months and then family uproots themselves and moves from northern California to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for them to train full time at Van Der Meer Academy.....

And 14 year old boy's YouTube video
( and I will say this again, I don't know why parents are posting videos online for the entire world to see of their children, seems like you are violating your child's basic right to privacy, but whatever....), in 11 months of playing, he has logged (according to the end of the video) - 1,650 hours.

Sounds like some of these tennis dads or in this case, families could be auditioning for a reality tv show.

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I heard someone is already filming "Tennis Moms" - some done during Clays in Florida.

I heard someone is already filming "Tennis Moms" - some done during Clays in Florida.

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Parenting Aces, Lisa Stone posted on her site and Facebook that a show producer was looking for tennis moms with "larger than life" personality with a junior(s) eating, breathing tennis to be filmed.
The show prob will go against Dance Moms TV show on air right now. I did not respond since we did not fit the bill but could think of many moms and dads to nominate!

I anticipate it will be entertaining but will show many UGLY sides of junior tennis.

Parenting Aces, Lisa Stone posted on her site and Facebook that a show producer was looking for tennis moms with "larger than life" personality with a junior(s) eating, breathing tennis to be filmed.
The show prob will go against Dance Moms TV show on air right now. I did not respond since we did not fit the bill but could think of many moms and dads to nominate!

I anticipate it will be entertaining but will show many UGLY sides of junior tennis.

Seems like the kids are having a great time. Nothing special yet (though little sis is hitting real well), but the progress has been remarkable. Could be really good if they want to be. Maybe they'll stick with it or maybe pick up some other sport in a couple of years. Maybe invent skate-tennis.

My daughter played their daughter at a Bullfrog tournament this summer.The mother and father were extremely nice.I never would have thought they were filthy rich.The boys were crazy about tennis.They showed me videos of them skateboarding.The mother told me that one day they both just decided that they didnt wanna keep skating.They didnt move for tennis.They were such a down to earth family you would never know they were so wealthy.

My daughter played their daughter at a Bullfrog tournament this summer.The mother and father were extremely nice.I never would have thought they were filthy rich.The boys were crazy about tennis.They showed me videos of them skateboarding.The mother told me that one day they both just decided that they didnt wanna keep skating.They didnt move for tennis.They were such a down to earth family you would never know they were so wealthy.

My daughter played their daughter at a Bullfrog tournament this summer.The mother and father were extremely nice.I never would have thought they were filthy rich.The boys were crazy about tennis.They showed me videos of them skateboarding.The mother told me that one day they both just decided that they didnt wanna keep skating.They didnt move for tennis.They were such a down to earth family you would never know they were so wealthy.

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Yes, as I was re-reading this thread I wanted to explain a little more on the family. Both parents are indeed super nice and awesome and in no way are the pushy, overbearing tennis parents that would be cast in the tennis version of "Dance Moms." They are extremely supportive, and the father just tends to enjoy showing the world how talented his children are and helping them reach their goals and full potential, rather than forcing them to do something that they don't want to do.